What is a Cesarean Section?
A cesarean section is the surgical delivery of a fetus through an incision in the abdominal wall and the uterus. Although the first authenticated cesarean section on a living woman occurred in 1610, the operation did not become widespread until the end of the 19th century when improved surgical conditions made it less dangerous.
At present, a cesarean section is performed when the birth canal is too small for the fetus or when abnormal events occur during birth, such as hemorrhage in the mother, failure of the cervix to dilate, or difficult positioning of the fetus. In recent years, cesarean sections have become increasingly common.